This final step in carpentry might not be the most difficult, but it’s definitely worth taking the time to do correctly in order to bring out the best in your finished products. It’s a must-have on any piece whether restored or built from scratch.

Why Adding Finish is Important
After any woodworking project, it’s always important that you apply a finishing coat of protective coating to minimize scratching, warping, or staining by various kinds of liquids or abrasives.

Keep in mind that finishes are different from stains. While the latter brings out the wood’s color and beauty, the former, also called the “topcoat” is what does the protection.

It’s certainly your preference of whether you want to apply this or not, but having an extra layer will improve its durability as well as its glossy sheen, and lock in the colors brought out by the initial staining.

Choosing the Right Finish
There’s no one type of finish that will work on all types of woodworking projects. In fact, the best finish for your project will depend on several factors, such as the following:

• Type of Project – Projects that will be used frequently will need more protection compared to those projects that won’t be as subjected to wear and tear, and certain finishes will certainly provide more protection than others.
• Sunlight/Humidity – Furniture that’s exposed to a lot of sunlight will also be subjected to fading much faster. Humidity will also make them more prone to warping and wearing down.

• Gloss – Finishes also vary depending on their gloss. They can either add a rich, amber tone, or give a crystal clear gloss to the wood. While you can choose whichever gloss you want, lighter woods should be best given a clearer finish.
• Ease of Application – You can easily apply most finishes with a cloth, but the difference is in the drying time. Not all finishes can be cleaned using soap and water – in fact, there’s a good chance that the one you’re using will need to be removed using mineral spirits.

Applying the Finish
Finishing is essentially applying the last coat of protective coating, and it’s usually a clear finish to really bring out the stain and its color. Here’s how you can apply the finish for your project:

• Prepare the wood beforehand. You do this by sanding the piece down first (start with rough-grit sandpaper, then work your way towards a finer-grit) before applying the stain. Sand it down again after drying to smooth it out.
• Stir the finish well. You can do this in order to mix up the material that’s settled at the bottom of the can. However, what you shouldn’t do is shake the can of finish, as this causes bubbles to form when it dries on the piece.
• Apply thin coats. A thin coat dries faster, while thicker coats take longer, dry unevenly, and are more prone to attracting dust.

Making the most out of your home in Singapore doesn’t always mean having to spend a lot trying to renovate everything from the furniture to the wall paints – sometimes, all you have to do is to think outside the box to get the home and the space you’ve always wanted.

Here are four easy steps to get you started on your interior decorating:

1. Clear the clutter.
The first step in bringing out the best in any home is always clearing out the clutter that you don’t need in your home. If there are things that you need to get rid of, be sure to sort them according to whether they can be sold, given away, or thrown away.

If you’re not sure which things at home you should keep and which ones to clear out, all you need to do is ask yourself whether you use it regularly or whether you haven’t used it in a while.

2. Pay attention to scale and the floor.
When choosing to decorate your room, take a good look at how big the room is and how the furniture actually looks like in relation to the room. Is the house big? Do the windows make it appear big? Or does the furniture make it appear small?

You should also pay attention to the floor of your home. If you have tiles, you want to make sure that they are as clean as possible.

3. Make your colors consistent.
Sticking to a limited color palette is an easy way to make any room a lot less claustrophobic, especially if the room itself is already small. For instance having a minimalist white-and-black room can make it look a lot wider and more spacious than it actually is.

If you want to bring a few splashes of color to your home, be sure to stay consistent with your color scheme and the furniture you already have. But don’t be afraid to make some color contrasts that you know will really pop – in fact, adding warm colors to a neutral scheme can make a room a lot cozier.

4. Make rest and relaxation an actual priority.
Homes, and especially bedrooms, above everything else, should be a place to rest and relax after a long day at work or school. And because there’s a good chance everyone coming home will have had a long day, a home that looks inviting to relax in is a welcome sight.

And the good news is that you don’t have to go all the way on decoration, throw pillows, or even bedsheets – even a bouquet of fresh flowers on the table or nightstand can work just as fine.

Whether your condominium building is newly built or not, one of the important property management duties you should never take for granted is providing the structure with proper waterproofing.

Letting moisture penetrate doesn’t only cause problems the property’s structure, but also affects its selling value, making it hard for your managing agent to look for new tenants. It can also cause damage to the paint work and finishing of the building. Major structural repairs can be extremely expensive, therefore it is important to perform regular estate maintenance with your property manager from Singapore like http://www.estateinfo.sg/ and ensure that your property is properly waterproofed.

Waterproofing Procedure

Perhaps, you’ve heard from your condo manager that all parts of your building, house or any property needs to be waterproofed, and each of these parts may require different waterproofing method.

One of the easiest ways to waterproof is treating the bricks of the building. This will prevent moisture from penetrating the walls and also help you save from your electric bill as the cooling of your AC unit will not escape through the walls. To seal the brickwork, repaint the exterior walls of the building using a special type of outdoor paint, which is weatherproof and more durable than regular wall paint.

If you’re thinking of hiring unlicensed workers, consider that repainting for the purpose of waterproofing requires skills and may need special compounds that only professionals can provide. So make sure to ask your managing agent to look for certified Singapore painting contractors.

Damp Proofing

This procedure is a meant to prevent damp in the walls of homes and buildings that can cause major property damage. Rising damp, one of the most common property problems, is the moisture trapped within the walls, and looking for ways to escape by evaporting.

To protect walls from rising damp, damp-proof treatment should be part of your estate maintenance. This requires professional assistance from damp proofing professionals who will assess the property and then install the substance with the use of special injection. Ask your condo manager for recommendations of the best professionals you have nearby.

The cost of this treatment varies depending on how much work is required. Factors like how many units are affected by the damp, the size of the affected area, and the location of the problem (e.g. ground floor or higher floors), which calls for the use of bigger equipment—which will dictate the final cost of the waterproofing service. Also, check if the gutters of your condominium buildings require waterproofing. Ask estate info from Singapore to have it checked and waterproofed by a waterproofing company as water can buildup in it and may cause dampening of building walls.

Roof Protection

Aside from walls and gutters, the roof should also undergo regular estate maintenance to ensure that it offers utmost protection to the entire structure of your building. If the condominium building has flat roof, or a part of it is flat, the more it requires to be waterproofed as flat roofs are more susceptible to damage. Also, have the roofed checked regularly, ideally before and after wet seasons, for damaged flashers, missing shingles, and loose tiles.

Once you have your entire property waterproofed—gutters working, walls damp-roofed, brickwork sealed, and roof in perfect condition, you should be ready for wet seasons. Waterproofing is an essential part of property management. It doesn’t only protect you from more costly renovation expenses, but ensures the safety of your tenants and their possessions as well.

A lot of Singaporeans consider Zen-inspired home. In fact, there are Singaporeans who are considering renovations. Zen architecture is widespread here and abroad because of its charm and appeal. Zen-inspired homes are relaxing. The peace and relaxation that Zen yields are incomparable. Zen is associated with simplicity and purity.

If you want your home to feature Zen style, you can absorb the following things:

Earthly colours: Zen is famous for its earthly colours. You should consider soft tones like grey, white and shades of beige and pink.

Softness: The softness of the floor is also part of the Zen style. You should look for soft carpets. Make sure that your carpets are light.

Light and natural fabrics: As much as possible, go for light and natural fabrics. Strong and dark colours are troubling. If you want to be comfortable, choose light-coloured fabrics.

Simple furniture: Zen is all about being simple without less disturbance as much as possible. If there is less disturbance, your home will be harmonious.

Natural scents: Scents can trigger relaxation. If you smell foul scents, it will bother you of course but if you smell natural scents, it will induce relaxation.

Plants: You have to put some plants (artificial or natural). The mere sight of green or lush is soothing enough. Green means nature and relaxation.

Get rid of clutter: Zen is all about clarity. The clutter can impede relaxation. You should arrange your things and throw away those that you do not need. Keep your home minimal.

Zen style is not difficult to achieve. If you think that you need renovations to get the feel of it, you should do so. Your home should be relaxing. If your home is making you uncomfortable and distressed, it is time that you move or change its appearance. Zen architecture or style can do the trick. You should consider it.

There are many Zen-inspired furniture here in Singapore. If you are looking for Zen architects, you will surely find one in no time.